AdvocateKhoj
is a dedicated case post system for consumers (URL:
http://www.advocatekhoj.com) to help people find a well-qualified lawyer for
their legal needs. It was launched April 10. It is a joint venture between two privately
funded firms - India-based Neosys Inc and US-based Nubia Inc.

'The
online legal market in India is at a nascent stage. So long there was just a
couple of yellow pages, listing advocates from various parts of India but there
wasn't a communication platform like AdvocateKhoj,' Anoop Vincent, co-founder
of AdvocateKhoj, told IANS.

'Our
early statistics show it is quite a promising market.'

There
are over three million cases pending in India's 21 high courts and 26.3 million
more cases pending in subordinate courts across the country. At the same time,
there are almost a quarter million under-trials languishing in jails across the
country.

'It
is obvious that consumers would embrace this new service as all of us prefer to
make empowered and informed decisions. The search for a well-qualified lawyer
or a good client should be no different,' Vincent said.

Unlike
in the West, there has been no authentic legal portal for the Indian public
until now, when across the world four million people go online every month to
get legal advice, Vincent explained.

In
recent years many legal aid websites have come up in Europe and America, he
said.

With
this new website, people in India who are in need of legal assistance can
present their case by answering some simple questions about their legal
situation free of cost on the AdvocateKhoj website and without revealing their
identity.

Interested
lawyers will also have to register with the website.

AdvocateKhoj
networks lawyers from 250 locations in India. According to the Bar Council of
India, there are over one million lawyers in India and about 60,000 law
graduates pass out every year from various colleges in India.

Lawyers
enrolled with AdvocateKhoj can review these cases and send their replies to
each client. The consumer can view the various responses, check their
background information, education and experience, and then make an informed
decision on whom to engage for their case.

AdvocateKhoj
uses automated online technologies that match the specific needs of a consumer
with a lawyer, by matching geographically, and also based on a lawyer's various
salient attributes and legal expertise. The matching is fully automated and is
based on client-entered criteria, so there is no preferential treatment of any
particular lawyer.

As
this happens before any fee is paid, and with minimal time spent, consumers can
present their cases and in turn get in touch with lawyers of their choice. The
site also provides comprehensive information and education about Indian law,
historical antecedents and legal tips, areas of law and Indian acts and rules.